A bit shell-shocked when I heard the news last night. The prognosis did seem gloomy, but I always felt it unwise to speculate in public on something I neither had knowledge of in general, or access the details in the particular case of Chris.

I was of course hoping against the odds he'd be up with the band next year when they toured the UK.

It wasn't to be. I never had the privilege of speaking to the man in person, but to a large degree that's immaterial.

I'm sure the music he created means a great deal to many of you, just as it does to me.

That music is alive and it continues to hold amazing resonance for many of us and doubtless will to the end of our days. That music will continue to live as long as it stirs new generations of listeners. It is powerful music - I know it will surely touch new generations just as it is discovered by new people even now [and will through this sad news reach even more].

Those are ideas that live on - and it isn't a static thing it is a profound dialogue more than a passive message. It speaks with a complexity and abstraction which is perhaps unrivalled in any other art form.

Chris has rewarded us with his musical imagination and that imagination will endure for as long as the music is remembered and even the effect that music has had on all that has followed it. An ever opening flower.

Been somewhat shellshocked since I heard the news on Planet Rock yesterday afternoon. As Chris above alluded to, I knew he was not well and that the prognosis was probably poor. I feel honoured to have seen him live (I think ten times) and have many treasured memories. Never met the guy but all who have only have nice things to say about him

I once met Chris, and the rest of the band, in june 2004 at a fan meeting in Stockholm arranged by the Swedish Yessociety.We were all waiting in the hired banquet hall at Sheraton for the band to appear as promised.Jon was first to arrive and did so on his own and spent a little time with us. The room was relly warm so me and my friend Haze (also yestalker)waited in the large hall, not wanting to be part of crowding Jon. He left the meeting after about thirty minutes and on the way out he passed us, so I got the chance to ask him to sign my copy of GFTO. He did and then he was gone.

More people escaped the heat of the room and mingled in the hall. A bit later the other guys showed up together and were immediatelycornered by fans. Chris withdrew into a dusky corner and stood there leaning against a cocktail table, looking at us through his tainted glasses. Someone discovered him and, one at a time, fans almost tip toed up to him. I did too and gave him the album to sign. He did and then shook my hand as he looked at me suspiciously. At the time my hair had been uncut for nearly two years after a divorce, so I probably looked like a freak.

His handshake was firm and friendly and I had the feeling he maybe expected me to exchange a few more words with him.I had wanted to but and I wish I had mustered up the nerve to speak with him, at least give him a couple of words of praise and appreciation as I did to the other guys, but his mere precence had me, if not starstruck but in awe, so all I could do was say thank you and give him a smile.

I'm glad at least I did meet him once.

At the concert the same night we had second row seats in front of Chris and it was a joy to watch him perform.

Saw in my e-mail today that some folks had actually been over here - glad to see people here even under these terrible circumstances . . .

I have my Sunday morning routine - turn on the stream for Hippie Radio here in Nashville @ 9:00 am, to listen to the weekly Beatles show, and while doing that, I'll sign onto Facebook, etc. and see what's up with my friends. The first post I saw was from Kathi on Yesfans, and I knew . . . said "Oh, God, No", and spent the rest of the day reading and posting on Facebook and Yesfans, where I'm an admin. The outpouring of grief from the fans was just immaginable. I managed to hold it together, trying to console friends, but aware of just such an empty feeling inside. On the radio stream, the Beatles show was followed by a 70's repeat of American Top 40 with Casey Kasem, then at 1:00 (yes, I had been online that long), a real DJ came on and announced the terrible news.

And I just lost it, sobbing . . . the announcement was soon followed by the playing of Roundabout, and I lost it again. This went on all afternoon, as friends would call, as people would post - Amy/Roan's Lady over here posted a beautiful pic of Chris playing the triple-neck bass and I lost it again, just sobbing to think I would never see Chris play that again live.

So, it's been like that all week so far - distracted by my own life at times, then noting the reality of Chris' departure from this earth, and just feeling a bit hollow inside. The tears still come at times.

Chris was just such an amazing musician, and a HUGE part of the Yes experience. It's just hard to imagine the band without him, and it won't be the same. I'm thankful for the musical legacy he has left us, and it's comforting to a point to know that I can listen to his music always, and watch those wonderful performances that have been preserved thankfully on video. But it may be a while before I can do that without bursting into tears again . . .

I was saddened to read Scotty's post last night that she had just told Xilan, when Xilan asked her why she wasn't going back to the hospital "to be with Daddy" . . . my heart breaks for the two of them, who lost so much more than a beloved musician.

There is a page of tributes from others in the music industry on Yesworld, as well as a thread of such on Yesfans, if anyone wants to come visit those sites too. Chris was loved and respected by so many . . . his passing leaves a huge hole in the Yesiverse . . .

I've been meaning to write something for a while, but words escape me. I've been torn as to what to say and how to say it. Someone else has already said it best, and I can't top it, so I'll instead go with my gut and borrow from Edwin Arlington Robinson and his wonderful poetry.

A Happy Man

"When these graven lines you see,Traveller, do not pity me;Though I be among the dead,Let no mournful word be said.

Children that I leave behind,And their children, all were kind;Near to them and to my wife,I was happy all my life.

My three sons I married right,And their sons I rocked at night;Death nor sorrow never broughtCause for one unhappy thought.

Now, and with no need of tears,Here they leave me, full of years,--Leave me to my quiet restIn the region of the blest."

I suppose it means finally whilst there may still be a band called Yes on tour [and I will go and see them] in truth there can not really be a Yes anymore now that one of the three essential elements [for me at least] is no longer on this Earth. Yes wasn't the same without Jon A of course [much as I accept the logic of the impossibility of him being a part of a touring entity for all sorts of reasons], but there was still the lingering hope that there might at some unforeseen future be a time they could reconvene and give us something else of the brilliance of Magnification before the book was closed.

I've probably listened as much to Yes music as I have to any of the great works of Western classical music and I prize them with the same sort of affection - perhaps more as it is music of my era and my social background. It feels personal even if it's the passing of someone I didn't know personally. I guess we all grieve for ourselves when we feel the loss of something which feels a part of ourselves.

Wanted to post this one out here, for those who don't frequent YF. There will be a memorial show Saturday night on WBZC in Philadelphia. You can stream it if you don't live in that area. Details below.

Join the gagliarchives Saturday night at 10PM EDT for Program 1429 for a special 4 hour tribute to the late great Chris Squire who sadly left us this past Sunday. We'll be featuring a compilation of interviews with Chris over the years along with well known Chris Squire works within Yes, The Syn, Conspiracy and other solo & collaborative work including Steve Hackett, The Syn, XYZ and more. Please join us for this special reflection on one of the pioneers of rock and progressive rock bass playing. He was always friendly to our program over the years and made a point to always have a sense of humor. He will be missed terribly. Please join us Saturday night for this one of a kind show for a one of a kind soul and musician. All regular programming including new music, birthday salutes and album anniversaries will be moved to July 11th, Program 1430. We'll also track our #1 CD in requests to close out the program in District 97's release In Vaults for the 2nd straight week.

It's so sad about Chris; he was definitely one of a kind. He took bass playing to a whole new level and inspired so many people, even famous bassists have said that Chris was the reason they took up the bass. He had a fantastic sense of humour that came out in his music, and i shall really miss his "shuffle" that he did during Starship Trooper! And there was always something special when he put on that triple-neck for Awaken! I've been playing Ritual from Yesshows all week! What a bass solo that is!